Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Hiawatha, Iowa
A $210,000 home here costs
$1,943per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $83,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,163. The real number is $780 higher every month, 67% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Linn County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Hiawatha against Linn County and Iowa
| Measure | Hiawatha | Linn County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,200 | $204,400 |
| Median property tax | $3,758 | $3,396 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.788% | 1.661% |
| Median gross rent | $846 | $915 |
| Population | 7,178 | 229,463 |
The weather behind that power bill
Hiawatha sits in Linn County, which averages a high of 85.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 12.5°F in its coldest, with 38.75" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 918 cooling and 6,384 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Linn County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Linn County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Hiawatha averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Hiawatha every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
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Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Hiawatha?
A $210,000 home in Hiawatha, Iowa costs approximately $1,943 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,163 principal and interest, $313 property tax, $91 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $175 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Hiawatha?
Hiawatha has an effective property tax rate of 1.788%, based on a median home value of $210,200 and median real estate taxes of $3,758. That is higher than the Linn County average of 1.661%.
What is the average home price in Hiawatha?
The median owner-occupied home value in Hiawatha, Iowa is $210,200, against $204,400 across Linn County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Hiawatha?
Median gross rent in Hiawatha is $846 a month, against $1,943 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Hiawatha?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Hiawatha, Iowa at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $83,500 a year. That covers the full $1,943 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Hiawatha, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Iowa.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.